1. No category

January 2015 | No. 01/2015
www.wipo.int/pct/en
Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications
Singapore: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore to begin receiving and processing
international applications in electronic form
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), in its capacity as receiving Office, has
notified the International Bureau (IB) under PCT Rule 89bis.1(d) that, with effect from 1 January
2015, it is prepared to receive and process international applications in electronic form. The
Office accepts international applications filed using the ePCT-Filing function in the ePCT Portal.
The applicable electronic filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees are
indicated in Fee Table I(a).
Furthermore, the Office has notified the IB that it will no longer accept international applications
with requests in PCT-EASY format with effect from 1 June 2015.
The notification containing the requirements and practices of the Office with regard to the filing
of international applications in electronic form will be published in the Official Notices (PCT
Gazette) on 15 January 2015 at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/officialnotices.pdf
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (SG))
The acceptance of ePCT-Filings by IPOS brings to 13 the total number of receiving Offices
which do so 1, and more Offices will be added soon.
PCT Patent Prosecution Highway (PCT-PPH) Pilots
New pilots start between the European Patent Office and the Canadian Intellectual
Property Office, the Israel Patent Office, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property and
the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
On 6 January 2015, new two-way PCT-PPH pilot programs began between the European
Patent Office (EPO) and the following Offices which act as International Searching Authorities
(ISAs) and International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs):
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ePCT-Filing is now available for online filing with the following receiving Offices: RO/IB, RO/AT, RO/AU, RO/BR, RO/CL,
RO/EA, RO/EP, RO/FI, RO/IN, RO/MY, RO/NZ, RO/SE and RO/SG.
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and
the Israel Patent Office.
Under these pilots, faster examination in the national phase in Canada or Israel, or in the
regional phase before the EPO, is available on the basis of a PCT application with a positive
written opinion from either the ISA or the IPEA, or a positive international preliminary report on
patentability (IPRP) (Chapter II) (that is, where at least one of the claims has been determined
as patentable) issued by the other Office in its capacity as ISA/IPEA.
On the same date, new PCT-PPH pilot programs also began between the EPO and
the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, and
the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
Under these pilots, faster examination in the national phase in Mexico or Singapore is available
on the basis of a PCT application with a positive written opinion from either the ISA or the IPEA,
or a positive international preliminary report on patentability (IPRP) (Chapter II) (that is, where at
least one of the claims has been determined as patentable) issued by the EPO in its capacity as
ISA/IPEA. Furthermore, faster examination can also be requested at the EPO based on the
national work product established during the processing of a national application or a PCT
application that has entered the national phase in Mexico or Singapore.
Further information on the above-mentioned PCT-PPH agreements is available as follows:
EPO and Canada:
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/informationepo/archive/20141219.html
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02160.html
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/wr03893.html
(in English)
http://www.opic.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/fra/wr03893.html
(in French)
EPO and Israel:
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/informationepo/archive/20141219a.html
http://index.justice.gov.il/En/Units/ILPO/Departments/Patents/Pages/PPH.aspx
EPO and Mexico:
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/informationepo/archive/20141219b.html
EPO and Singapore:
http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/official-journal/informationepo/archive/20141219c.html
http://www.ipos.gov.sg/AboutIP/TypesofIPWhatisIntellectualProperty/Whatisapatent/
Applyingforapatent/PatentProsecutionHighwayPPH.aspx
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
The PCT-PPH page of the PCT website KDVEHHQXSGDWHG to include information on these
new pilots at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/filing/pct_pph.html
Non-working Days at the IB
For the purposes of computing time limits under PCT Rule 80.5, the days on which the
International Bureau (IB) will not be open for business are, for the period from 1 January to
31 December 2015, the following:
All Saturdays and Sundays, and
1 and 2 January 2015
3 and 6 April 2015
25 May 2015
10 September 2015
24 September 2015 (this date may be subject to change)
24, 25 and 31 December 2015
Note that the days indicated above concern only the IB and not the national or regional Offices.
The closed dates in 2015 for other Offices are available on the PCT website at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/dc/closeddates/faces/page/index.xhtml
PCT-SAFE Update
Release of a new version of the PCT-SAFE Client software
A new version of the PCT-SAFE Client software (version 3.51.066.242, dated 1 January 2015)
is now available and can be downloaded at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct-safe/en/download/download_client.html
Further details are available on the PCT eServices website at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct-safe/en/
WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents
It is recalled that, by using the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS), a
PCT applicant can request the International Bureau to retrieve a copy of an earlier application
from DAS for use as a priority document, instead of providing or arranging for the provision of a
certified copy.
The original DAS system required applicants to enable access for Offices through a web portal.
All participating Offices have now moved to a new system where access is provided by sending
an “access code” to the Office which is to retrieve the document. Consequently, on
19 December 2014, the original DAS web portal was decommissioned and has been replaced
with a new version which requires a WIPO account. It is not essential to access the new portal
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
to use DAS, but it does provide you with a useful range of information about the system. Most
notably, it allows you to track the access history of your priority documents so that you can tell
whether an Office has actually retrieved your priority document or not.
A demo version of the new DAS web portal is available at:
https://webaccess.wipo.int/dasapplicantdemo
PCT Information Update
AU Australia (provisions concerning international-type search and provisional
protection)
There has been a change in the provision of the law of Australia concerning international-type
search. The relevant provision is now: Regulation 3.14A of the Patents Regulations.
There have also been changes concerning the provisions relating to provisional protection after
international publication. Reference should now be made to Section 56A of the Patents Act
1990 and Regulation 4.4 of the Patents Regulations.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (AU))
BE Belgium (Internet address)
The Internet address of the Intellectual Property Office (Belgium) has changed, as follows:
Internet:
http://economie.fgov.be/opri-die.jsp?
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (BE))
BW Botswana (name of Office; location; telephone number; e-mail and Internet
addresses; fees)
The name, location and e-mail address of the Registrar of Companies, Trademarks, Patents
and Industrial Designs (Botswana) have changed, and the Office has notified an additional
telephone number and its Internet address, as follows:
Name of Office:
Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property (ROCIP)
(Botswana)
Location:
Kgale Mews
Plot No. 181
Gaborone
Botswana
Telephone:
(267) 318 87 54, 367 37 00
E-mail:
roc@gov.bw
Internet:
http://www.mti.gov.bw/content/registrar-companies-ip
The amount of the transmittal fee, payable to the Office as receiving Office, has changed to
USD 32, and the amounts of the following national fees, payable to the Office as designated (or
elected) Office, have also changed, as follows:
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
For patent:
Application fee.................................................................
BWP 150 2 300 3
Annual fee for the first year .............................................
BWP 302
603
For utility model certificate:
Application fee.................................................................
BWP 902 1803
Annual fee for the first year .............................................
BWP 502 1003
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B1 and C (BW) and National Chapter,
Summary (BW))
CO Colombia (competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining
Authorities)
The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Colombia) has specified, with effect from
16 December 2014, the National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile) (INAPI), in addition to the
Austrian Patent Office, the European Patent Office, the Federal Service for Intellectual Property
(Rospatent) (Russian Federation), the National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil) and the
Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, as competent International Searching and Preliminary
Examining Authority for international applications filed by nationals and residents of Colombia
with the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (or the International Bureau (IB)) as
receiving Office.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (CO))
EP European Patent Office (fees)
The European Patent Office has notified the IB that the CHF 100 reduction in the international
filing fee, which is outlined in item 4(a) of the Schedule of Fees, applies in respect of
international applications filed using the EPO web-form filing. The equivalent amount in EUR of
that reduction is EUR 82, and is now indicated in Fee Table I(a).
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (EP))
ES Spain (fees; national security provisions)
The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office has provided additional details to the IB concerning
restrictions in its national legislation which are applicable when filing international applications
with other Offices.
There has been a change in the amount of the following fees, payable to the Office as receiving
Office with effect from 1 January 2015:
2
3
Transmittal fee: ........................................................................
EUR
74.99
Fee for priority document: ........................................................
EUR
29.99
Applicable in case of filing by individuals and small entities whose number of employees does not exceed 100 persons.
Applicable in case of filings by companies other than small entities.
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Online
On paper
Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority: ............... EUR 90.44 EUR 106.40
Also from 1 January 2015, there will be a change in the amounts of the following national fees,
payable to the Office as designated (or elected) Office:
For patent or utility model:
Online
On paper
Filing fee: ........................................................................ EUR 63.68 EUR 74.92
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (ES), Annex C (ES) and National Chapter,
Summary (ES))
FR France (national security provisions)
The National Institute of Industrial Property (France) has provided additional details to the IB
concerning restrictions in its national legislation which are applicable when filing international
applications with other Offices.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (FR))
GB United Kingdom (Internet address)
The Internet address of the Intellectual Property Office 4 (United Kingdom) has changed, as
follows:
Internet:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (GB))
GE Georgia (competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities –
clarification concerning specification of Israel Patent Office)
Further to the information published in PCT Newsletter No. 10/2014 concerning the specification
by the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti) of the Israel Patent Office
as competent international Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining
Authority (IPEA) for international applications filed in English by nationals and residents of
Georgia with Sakpatenti as receiving Office, please note that the Israel Patent Office may be
chosen as ISA and IPEA also in respect of international applications filed in Georgian or
Russian, provided that a translation into English is furnished to the receiving Office.
IL Israel (fees)
With effect from 1 January 2015, the amount of the transmittal fee, payable to the Israel Patent
Office as receiving Office, changed to ILS 554, and the amount of the following national fee,
payable to the Office as designated (or elected) Office, also changed:
Filing fee ..................................................................................
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (IL))
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Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office.
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ILS
2,031
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
JP Japan (fees)
As from 1 March 2015, there will be a change in the equivalent amounts of the international
filing fee and the fee per sheet over 30, payable in JPY to the Japan Patent Office as receiving
Office, as well as a change in the equivalent amount(s) in JPY of the applicable fee reductions
listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees, as indicated in Fee Table I(a).
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (JP))
KR Republic of Korea (requirements concerning the filing and processing of
international applications in electronic form; fees)
The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has notified the International Bureau that, with
effect from 1 January 2015, the only certification authority accepted by the Office in accordance
with Section 710(a)(vi) of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT will be the WIPO
Customer Certification Authority. Certificates from the KIPO Certification Authority will no longer
be accepted. The corresponding amended notification relating to the filing and processing of
international applications in electronic form was published in the Official Notices (PCT Gazette)
of 24 December 2014 at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/official_notices/officialnotices.pdf
The amounts of the following national fees, payable to KIPO as designated (or elected) Office,
have changed in respect of international applications filed on or after 1 March 2014, as follows:
For patent:
Filing fee:
– when a translation of the application has been
furnished in electronic form: ............................................
KRW
46,000
– when a translation of the application has been
furnished on paper: .........................................................
plus, per sheet in excess of 20: .................................
KRW
KRW
66,000
1,000
Fee for request for examination: .....................................
plus, for each claim: ..................................................
KRW 143,000
KRW 44,000
Annual fees from the first to the third
year, per year: .................................................................
plus, for each claim: ..................................................
KRW
KRW
15,000
13,000
– when a translation of the application has been
furnished in electronic form: ............................................
KRW
20,000
– when a translation of the application has been
furnished on paper: .........................................................
plus, per sheet in excess of 20: .................................
KRW
KRW
30,000
1,000
Fee for request for examination: .....................................
plus, for each claim: ..................................................
KRW
KRW
71,000
19,000
For utility model:
Filing fee:
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Annual fees from the first to the third year, per year: ......
plus, for each claim: ..................................................
KRW
KRW
12,000
4,000
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (KR) (footnotes) and National Chapter
(Summary) (KR))
PE Peru (competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities)
The National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Intellectual Property Protection
(INDECOPI) (Peru) has specified, with effect from 8 January 2015, the National Institute of
Industrial Property (Brazil) and the National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile) (INAPI), in
addition to the Austrian Patent Office, the European Patent Office, the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, as competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authorities
for international applications filed by nationals and residents of Peru with INDECOPI (or the IB)
as receiving Office.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (PE))
RS Serbia (provisional protection; fees)
The Intellectual Property Office (Serbia) has notified changes concerning the provisions relating
to provisional protection after international publication, where the designation is made for the
purposes of a European patent. The text should now refer to Article 19 of the Patent Law.
The amounts of the following fees, payable to the Office as receiving Office, have changed with
effect from 1 June 2014:
Transmittal fee 5:.......................................................................
RSD
Fee for priority document, for the first document up to 10 pages:
plus, for each subsequent document up to 10 pages: ......
plus, per page in excess of 10: ........................................ .
RSD
1,720
[no change]
[no change]
Fee for requesting restoration of the right of priority: ...............
RSD
7,140
2,880
The amounts of the following national fees, payable to the Office as designated (or elected)
Office, have changed with effect from the same date (other fees not indicated have not
changed):
For patent:
5
Filing fee5: .......................................................................
RSD
7,140
Claim fee for each claim in excess of 105:.......................
RSD
710
Reduced examination fee for international applications5:
RSD
7,170
Annual fee for the first three years5: ................................
RSD
10,050
This fee is reduced by 50% where the international application is filed by a natural person.
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
For petty patent:
Filing fee5: .......................................................................
RSD
7,140
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes B1 and C (RS) and National Chapter,
Summary (RS))
SA Saudi Arabia (competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining
Authorities)
The Saudi Patent Office has specified, with effect from 1 January 2015, the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, in addition to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Egyptian Patent
Office, the European Patent Office and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent)
(Russian Federation), as competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining
Authority for international applications filed in English by nationals and residents of Saudi Arabia
with the Saudi Patent Office (or the IB) as receiving Office.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (SA))
SC Seychelles (e-mail address; fees)
The e-mail address of the Registration Division, Department of Legal Affairs (Seychelles) has
changed, as follows:
E-mail:
regdiv@registry.gov.sc
The amount of the following national fee, payable to the Office as designated (or elected) Office,
has also changed:
National application fee: ..........................................................
SCR
3,000
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex B1 (SC) and National Chapter (Summary) (SC))
SG Singapore (electronic filing; fees)
For information on the acceptance, with effect from 1 January 2015, by the Intellectual Property
Office of Singapore as receiving Office of international applications filed using ePCT-Filing, as
well as information on the electronic filing fee reductions listed in item 4 of the Schedule of Fees
that will be applicable, see “Electronic Filing and Processing of International Applications”,
above.
US United States of America (competent International Authorities)
The conditions under which the Australian Patent Office (IP Australia) will act as an ISA and
IPEA for international applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) as receiving Office have changed with effect from 24 September 2014. The condition
that IP Australia would not act as an ISA for applications with one or more claims in the fields of
business methods or mechanical engineering, or analogous fields of technology as defined by
specified areas of the International Patent Classification System, has been removed. However,
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
a new condition that IP Australia has not received more than 250 international applications from
the USPTO during the relevant fiscal quarter has been added. For further information, see:
http://www.uspto.gov/patents/law/notices/ipau-isa-ipea_20141205.pdf
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (US), footnote 5)
Search fee and other fees relating to international search (European Patent Office, Japan
Patent Office, Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation),
Israel Patent Office, National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil))
As from 1 February 2015, there will be a change in the equivalent amount payable in USD, for
an international search carried out by the Japan Patent Office.
As from 1 March 2015, there will be changes in the equivalent amounts payable in the
currencies specified below, for international searches carried out by the following Offices:
European Patent Office .......................................................... JPY
Japan Patent Office ................................................................. CHF, EUR, SGD
Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent)
(Russian Federation) ............................................................... CHF, EUR, HUF, USD
National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil)........................ USD
The above-mentioned changes are indicated in Fee Table I(b).
As from the same date, there will also be a change in the amount payable in ILS, as well as in
the equivalent amounts in CHF and EUR (the equivalent amount in USD has not yet been
established), for an international search carried out by the Israel Patent Office, as indicated in
Fee Table I(b), together with changes in the amounts of the following fees payable from the
same date:
Additional search fee: ..............................................................
ILS
3,554
Late furnishing fee: ..................................................................
ILS
457
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex D (BR, EP, JP, IL, RU))
Preliminary examination fee and other fees relating to international preliminary
examination (Israel Patent Office, Spanish Patent and Trademark Office)
There has been a change in the amount of the following fees, payable in EUR to the Spanish
Patent and Trademark Office as International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) with effect
from 1 January 2015:
Preliminary examination fee: ...................................................
EUR
589.49
Additional preliminary examination fee: ...................................
EUR
589.49
As from 1 March 2015, there will be a change in the amount of the following fees, payable in ILS
to the Israel Patent Office as IPEA:
Preliminary examination fee: ...................................................
ILS
1,523
Additional preliminary examination fee: ...................................
ILS
1,523
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Late furnishing fee: ..................................................................
ILS
457
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex E (ES and IL))
Handling fee (Israel Patent Office, Japan Patent Office)
There has been a change in the equivalent amount of the handling fee, payable in ILS to the
Israel Patent Office as IPEA with effect from 1 January 2015, and as from 1 March 2015, there
will be a change in the equivalent amount of the handling fee, payable in JPY to the Japan
Patent Office as IPEA. The new amounts are/will be ILS 766 and JPY 24,700, respectively.
(Updating of PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex E (IL, JP))
New/updated PCT Resources
WIPO Pearl video
Further to the information published in PCT Newsletter No. 10/2014, page 2, introducing WIPO
Pearl, a new database providing free access to a wealth of multilingual scientific and technical
terminology found in patent documents, WIPO has produced an overview video showing the
key features of the database, which can be viewed at:
http://www.wipo.int/multimedia-video/en/wipopearl/wipopearl.mp4
ISA and IPEA Agreements
Updated versions of the Agreements, in English and French, between the International Bureau
of WIPO and the following Authorities as International Searching Authorities (ISAs) and
International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs):
CN
State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (1 March 2015)
KR
Korean Intellectual Property Office (1 January 2015)
relating to the functioning of those Authorities as ISAs and IPEAs under the PCT, as in force
from the dates indicated in parentheses, have been published in PDF format at, respectively:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/access/isa_ipea_agreements.html
(see right hand side of the page)
http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/access/isa_ipea_agreements.html
(see right hand side of the page)
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/texts/agreements/ag_kr.pdf
http://www.wipo.int/pct/fr/texts/agreements/ag_kr.pdf
Warning About Requests for Payment of Fees
New invitations
Further to the many warnings that have been published in the PCT Newsletter about invitations
to PCT applicants and agents to pay fees that do not come from the International Bureau of
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
WIPO (IB) and are unrelated to the processing of international applications under the PCT, two
new invitations have been identified originating from:
WIPO – World Intelligent Property Office; and
Search Index Registration Department – Registration of International Patent
Note that, in the case of the “World Intelligent Property Office”, the address and e-mail address
shown at the bottom of the page of the “invoice” is remarkably similar to that of the World
Intellectual Property Organization, and they have even included the World Intellectual Property
Organization’s actual Internet address. To view examples of the invitations, as well as the
many other examples which have been brought to the attention of WIPO by PCT users, and for
further information on such requests in general, see:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/warning/pct_warning.html
PCT applicants and agents should note that it is the IB alone which publishes all PCT
applications promptly after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date (see PCT
Article 21(2)(a)); there is no separate fee for such international publication, and the legal effects
of international publication are set out in PCT Article 29.
If they have not already done so, PCT applicants and agents are advised to bring this
information to the attention of the people responsible for handling payments of fees within their
organizations, as well as to the attention of inventors who might also receive such requests. In
case of doubt in relation to any such invitation, please do not hesitate to contact the IB at:
Telephone:
(+41-22) 338 83 38
Fax:
(+41-22) 338 83 39
E-mail:
pct.legal@wipo.int
PCT in the News
A link to an article from the WIPO Magazine (No. 6, 2014) entitled “Pioneers of Blue LEDs
Dazzle Nobel Committee” has been added to the “PCT in the News” page of the PCT website.
The 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded to the inventors of blue light emitting diodes
(LEDs). Japanese-born Professors Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura were
recognized for their seminal work in developing blue LEDs during the mid-1980s. Their
breakthroughs made it possible to develop a new high-quality, energy-efficient and
environmentally-friendly source of lighting which is now firmly embedded in our daily lives. The
work of the 2014 laureates triggered a surge in patent filings and the technology’s rapid
evolution. A simple search of PATENTSCOPE reveals that between 2004 and 2013, over
8,250 blue LED-related international applications were filed through the PCT, including key
pioneering technologies developed by the 2014 laureates. Underlining the value of the PCT to
university researchers, Professor Nakamura explains, “university technologies are generally
very early stage. The PCT is critical for these early stage technologies because it gives us the
opportunity to protect our patents globally while allowing the market and the technology to
mature further before determining which countries might be most valuable to commercial
partners.”
The full article, as well as other extracts from the WIPO Magazine, is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/news/pct_news.html
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PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Issue 6/2014 of the WIPO Magazine is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/index.html
Practical Advice
Information on submitting informal comments to address issues raised in the written
opinion of the International Searching Authority
Q: I would like to submit informal comments to the International Bureau following the receipt of
the written opinion of the International Searching Authority, but cannot find any information in
the PCT Regulations relating to informal comments. Please could you tell me what the time
limit for submitting informal comments is, and also whether there is a limit to the number of
words contained in the informal comments, as is the case for the statement under PCT
Article 19? Will the informal comments be published with the international application? What
happens if I later file a demand for international preliminary examination – will the informal
comments be sent to the International Preliminary Examining Authority?
A: During the thirty-first session of the Assembly of the PCT Union, which met in
September 2002, Regulations under the PCT were adopted concerning the issuance of a new
type of written opinion by the International Searching Authority (ISA). The Assembly agreed
that no special provision should be included in the Regulations to enable the applicant to
comment on the written opinion of the ISA. Any formal response to the written opinion of the
ISA would need to be submitted to the International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA)
under PCT Article 34 as part of the international preliminary examination procedure. However,
in the event that a demand for international preliminary examination is not filed, the applicant
would be given the opportunity to rebut the written opinion of the ISA by submitting comments
on an informal basis to the International Bureau (IB). Such “informal comments” would be
subsequently sent to the designated Offices and also be made available to the public on
PATENTSCOPE. It is because of the informal nature of such comments that you have not been
able to find any information concerning them in the PCT Regulations, although some
information is provided in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, International Phase, paragraph 7.030
(http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/gdvol1/pdf/gdvol1.pdf), and some useful background
information can be found in the relevant PCT Assembly documents 6.
There is no specific time limit for submitting informal comments; however, the earliest time
when you could submit them is after the issuance of the written opinion of the ISA, and it is
recommended to submit them before the expiration of 28 months from the priority date, so that
they will be available to designated Offices upon entry into the national phase. Any informal
comments received after 30 months from the priority date will simply be kept in the file of the IB;
they will not be made available on PATENTSCOPE (as is generally the case with any other
document submitted to the IB after that time limit), nor will they be transmitted to the designated
Offices. During national phase prosecution, if you would like any of the designated Offices to
take into account any comments you would like to make on the written opinion of the ISA, you
should file them directly with each Office concerned. Note that, as far as the language of
informal comments is concerned, it is the practice of the IB to communicate to designated
Offices informal comments in any language (and also sometimes in more than one language),
6
See PCT/A/31/10 (paragraph 47) and PCT/A/31/6 (paragraphs 22, 23, 25, 28, 30, 31, 35, 43 and 44) at:
http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=4656
13
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
and that any designated Office would be free to require a translation of such comments, where
appropriate.
Unlike the requirement that the statement relating to amendments to the claims made under
PCT Article 19 should contain a maximum of 500 words (PCT Rule 46.4), there is no maximum
word count for informal comments. Also, unlike amendments under PCT Article 19, informal
comments will not be published with the international application, although they will be made
publicly available on PATENTSCOPE (via the “documents” tab) as from the date of international
publication 7. The informal comments will not be sent to the ISA, nor will they be sent to the
IPEA if you file a demand.
Please note that informal comments can be uploaded to the IB using the “Upload Documents”
function in the ePCT system (https://pct.wipo.int/ePCT). It is recalled that, in order to do this, it
is sufficient to create a basic WIPO user account and to use the ePCT public services option,
which does not require you to authenticate your user account with a digital certificate.
Alternatively, the informal comments can be faxed to: +41 22 338 82 70.
If you do file a demand and would like the IPEA to consider the comments you sent to the IB as
informal comments, you would have to re-submit them directly to the IPEA under PCT
Article 34, as part of the international preliminary examination procedure (Chapter II). If you do
this, in order to avoid confusion, be sure to delete any reference to “informal comments” and
include a title to the effect that the comments are a response for the purposes of Chapter II. For
information on the formal procedure for submitting responses to written opinions under
Chapter II, whereby you can submit one or more amendments or arguments to the IPEA, and
have the possibility to communicate orally with the IPEA, see PCT Rule 66.2 to 66.6 and 66.8.
If a demand is filed, informal comments will not be forwarded to the designated Offices,
however they will still be made available to the public on PATENTSCOPE.
Please be aware that, where applicable, you may be more likely to obtain a stronger patent if
you address any issues raised in the written opinion of the ISA by submitting amendments
under PCT Article 19 together with a statement under Article 19, and/or by filing a demand and
submitting amendments under PCT Article 34. Although submitting Article 19 amendments can
be done in addition to submitting informal comments, you should be careful to clearly distinguish
between the different types of submission. As was said above, if you wish to submit the content
of your informal comments for the purposes of international preliminary examination, you would
have to re-submit your comments to the IPEA clarifying that they are for the purposes of
Chapter II.
It is recalled that, in the case of international applications filed with the European Patent
Office (EPO) as receiving Office claiming priority from an earlier application already searched by
the EPO, and where the EPO has been chosen as ISA, it is possible to submit informal
comments to the EPO regarding the earlier application together with the international
application. Provided the necessary requirements are met, the examiner performing the
international search would then take into account those informal comments. This procedure,
known as “PCT Direct”, should not be confused with the regular informal comments under the
PCT that are discussed above (for further information on PCT Direct, see PCT Newsletter
No. 11/2014, page 4).
7
Prior to the deletion of PCT Rule 44ter on 1 July 2014, written opinions, together with any informal comments submitted
by the applicant in response to such opinions, were only available on PATENTSCOPE after the expiration of 30 months
from the priority date.
14
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
PCT Seminar Calendar
(http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/seminar/seminar.pdf)
(situation on 12 January 2015)
Dates and
location
Language Nature of seminar;
of
WIPO speakers
seminar
(and others where known)
Organizer and
contact numbers
16 January 2015
English
Cracow (PL)
(Note that only a
limited number of
places are available)
PCT seminar
WIPO speaker: Mr. Sim
Centre d’études internationales de la
propriété intellectuelle (CEIPI)
(Mr. Lukasz Bodgan)
Tel: (48) 604 406 432
E-mail: lukasz.bogdan@agh.edu.pl
4 February 2015
Ecully (FR)
French
PCT presentation
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Centre Paul Roubier
Tel: (33-4) 78 33 07 08
Fax: (33-4) 78 33 58 96
11 February 2015
San Jose, CA (US)
English
Advanced PCT Seminar for Patent
Practitioners
WIPO speakers: Ms. Bidwell and
Mr. Reed
Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner
For pre-registration, contact:
Ms. Mary E. Hirsch
Tel: (1-612) 371 21 43
Fax: (1-612) 339 30 61
E-mail: mhirsch@slwip.com
19 February 2015
Irvine, CA (US)
English
Advanced PCT Seminar
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bidwell
Other speaker: Mr. Smith (PCT Learning
Center)
PCT Learning Center
PCT Learning Center
(Ms. Frimmel Smith)
Tel: (1-571) 212 38 68
Fax: (1-703) 636 89 74
E-mail: contact@pctlearningcenter.org
Internet: pctlearningcenter.org
23 February 2015
Brussels (BE)
English
PCT presentation within the framework
of the Roving Seminars on WIPO
Services and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Mr. Matthes
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
WIPO and Intellectual Property Office
(Belgium)
(Mr. Alain Lambermont)
Tel: (32-314) 59 53 48
E-mail:
Alain.Lambermont@economie.fgov.be
5 March 2015
Auckland (NZ)
English
PCT presentation within the framework
of the Roving Seminars on WIPO
Services and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
WIPO and Intellectual Property Office of New
Zealand
(Mr. Simon Gallagher)
Tel: (64-4) 978 7594
E-mail: simon.gallagher@iponz.govt.nz
Internet: www.iponz.govt.nz/contactus
6 March 2015
Wellington (NZ)
English
PCT presentation within the framework
of the Roving Seminars on WIPO
Services and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
WIPO and Intellectual Property Office of New
Zealand
(see Auckland, above)
10 March 2015
Melbourne (AU)
English
PCT presentation within the framework
of the Roving Seminars on WIPO
Services and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
WIPO and IP Australia
(Ms. Jennifer Bowen Smith)
Tel: (61–2) 6283 2642
E-mail:
jennifer.bowensmith@ipaustralia.gov.au
11 March 2015
Sydney (AU)
English
PCT presentation within the framework
of the Roving Seminars on WIPO
Services and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
WIPO and IP Australia
(see Melbourne, above)
[continued on next page]
15
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
PCT Seminar Calendar [continued]
Dates and
location
Language Nature of seminar;
of
WIPO speakers
seminar
(and others where known)
13 March 2015
Brisbane (AU)
English
PCT presentation within the framework of WIPO and IP Australia
the Roving Seminars on WIPO Services (see Melbourne, above)
and Initiatives
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
Other WIPO speakers on other IP topics:
Mr. Takagi, Mr. Wilson and Mr. VázquezLópez
25 March 2015
Northern Virginia
(US)
English
Advanced PCT Seminar
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bidwell
Other speaker: Mr. Smith (PCT Learning
Center)
PCT Learning Center
(Ms. Frimmel Smith)
Tel: (1-571) 212 38 68
Fax: (1-703) 636 89 74
E-mail: contact@pctlearningcenter.org
Internet: pctlearningcenter.org
12–14 April 2015
Orlando, FL (US)
English
Comprehensive PCT course within the
framework of the Spring 2015 Advanced
Program
WIPO speakers: Ms. Bidwell and
Mr. Reed
16–17 April 2015
London (GB)
English
Basic PCT Formalities Seminar
WIPO speakers: Mr. Sim and
Ms. Fourné-Godbersen
20–21 May 2015
Munich (DE)
German
Basic PCT seminar
WIPO speakers: Mr. Reischle and
Mr. Henninger
Patent Resources Group, Inc.
(Ms. Theresa Woods)
Tel: (1-703) 682 48 60
Fax: (1-703) 683 18 95
E-mail: twoods@patentresources.com
Internet: http://www.patentresources.com
Management Forum Ltd
Tel: (44-1483) 73 00 71
Fax: (44-1483) 73 00 08
E-mail: josephine.leak@managementforum.co.uk
Forum Institut für Management GmbH
Tel: (49-6221) 500 660
Fax: (49-6221) 500 666
E-mail: c.weber@forum-institut.de
5 October 2015
Zurich (CH)
German
Seminar on the latest developments
concerning the PCT (CEIPI Course)
WIPO speaker: to be announced
Centre d’études internationales de la
propriété intellectuelle (CEIPI)
(Mr. Hansjörg Kley)
Tel: (41-52) 226 00 00
Fax: (41-52) 226 00 09
E-mail: hansjoerg@kley.ch
Advanced PCT seminar
WIPO speakers: to be announced
PCT presentation within the framework of
the 14th Annual Conference for Senior
Patent Administrators
(29-30 October 2015)
WIPO speaker: Mr. Reischle
International Patent Law Conference:
PCT Update
WIPO speaker: Mr. Reischle
Forum Institut für Management GmbH
(see Munich, above)
Management Forum Ltd
Tel: (44-1483) 73 00 71
Fax: (44-1483) 73 00 08
E-mail: josephine.leak@managementforum.co.uk
Forum Institut für Management GmbH
(see Munich, above)
2–3 December 2015 French
Paris (FR)
Basic PCT seminar
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
3–4 December 2015 English
London (GB)
Advanced PCT Formalities (including
practical presentations on PCT
eServices)
WIPO speaker: to be announced
Institut national de la propriété industrielle
(INPI)
(Ms. Françoise Chauvin)
Tel: (33-1) 53 04 55 76
Fax: (33-1) 53 04 52 52
E-mail: fchauvin@inpi.fr
Management Forum Ltd
(see London, above)
8 December 2015
Paris (FR)
Advanced PCT seminar
WIPO speaker: Ms. Bonvallet
14–15 October 2015 German
Munich (DE)
30 October 2015
English
London (GB)
4–5 November 2015 German
Munich (DE)
French
16
Organizer and
contact numbers
Institut national de la propriété industrielle
(INPI)
(see Paris, above)
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
PCT Events Without WIPO speakers
Dates and
location
Language Nature of seminar;
of event
Speakers
18 February 2015
Irvine, CA (US)
English
PCT Boot Camp: Learn the Basics
Speaker: Mr. Smith (PCT Learning
Center)
24 March 2015
Northern Virginia (US)
English
PCT Boot Camp: Learn the Basics
Speaker: Mr. Smith (PCT Learning
Center)
17
Organizer and
contact numbers
PCT Learning Center
(Ms. Frimmel Smith)
Tel: (1-571) 212 38 68
Fax: (1-703) 636 89 74
E-mail: contact@pctlearningcenter.org
Internet: pctlearningcenter.org
PCT Learning Center
(see Irvine, above)
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
PCT Fee Tables
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
The following Tables show the amounts and currencies of the main PCT fees which are payable to the receiving Offices (ROs) and the
International Preliminary Examining Authorities (IPEAs) during the international phase under Chapter I (Tables I(a) and I(b)) and under Chapter II
(Table II). Fees which are payable only in particular circumstances are not shown; nor are details of certain reductions and refunds which may be
available; such information can be found in the PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annexes C, D and E. Note that all amounts are subject to change due to
variations in the fees themselves or fluctuations in exchange rates. The international filing fee may be reduced by CHF 100, 200 or 300 where the
international application, or part of the international application, is filed in electronic form, as prescribed under Item 4(a), (b), (c) and (d) of the
Schedule of Fees (annexed to the Regulations under the PCT) and the PCT Applicant’s Guide, paragraph 5.189. A 90% reduction in the
international filing fee (including the fee per sheet over 30) and the handling fee, as well as an exemption from the transmittal fee payable to the
International Bureau as receiving Office, is also available to applicants from certain States—see footnotes 2 and 16. (Note that if the CHF 100,
200 or 300 reduction, as the case may be, and the 90% reduction are applicable, the 90% reduction is calculated after the CHF 100, 200 or 300
reduction.) The footnotes to the Fee Tables follow Table II.
Key to abbreviations used in fee tables:
eq
equivalent of –
IPEA International Preliminary
Examining Authority
ISA
International Searching
Authority
RO
receiving Office
Currencies:
ALL
AMD
AUD
AZN
BAM
BGN
BHD
BND
Albanian lek
Armenian dram
Australian dollar
Azerbaijani manat
Convertible mark
Bulgarian lev
Bahraini dinar
Brunei dollar
BRL
BYR
BZD
CAD
CHF
CLP
CNY
COP
CUC
CZK
DKK
DZD
EGP
EUR
GBP
GHS
GTQ
Brazilian real
Belarusian rouble
Belize dollar
Canadian dollar
Swiss franc
Chilean peso
Yuan renminbi
Colombian peso
Cuban convertible peso
Czech koruna
Danish krone
Algerian dinar
Egyptian pound
Euro
Pound sterling
Ghanaian cedi
Quetzal
HRK
HUF
IDR
ILS
INR
IRR
ISK
JPY
KES
KGS
KPW
KRW
KZT
LSL
LYD
MAD
MKD
Croatian kuna
Hungarian forint
Indonesian rupiah
New Israeli sheqel
Indian rupee
Iranian Rial
Icelandic krona
Japanese yen
Kenyan shilling
Kyrgyz som
Won
Won
Kazakh tenge
Lesotho loti
Libyan dinar
Moroccan dirham
Macedonian denar
MWK
MXN
MYR
NOK
NZD
PEN
PGK
PHP
PLN
RON
RSD
RUB
SDG
SEK
SGD
THB
TJS
Malawian kwacha
Mexican peso
Malaysian ringgit
Norwegian krone
New Zealand dollar
Nuevo sol
Kina
Philippine peso
Polish zloty
New leu
Serbian dinar
Russian rouble
Sudanese pound
Swedish krona
Singapore dollar
Baht
Tajik somoni
TND
TTD
Tunisian dinar
Trinidad and Tobago
dollar
UAH Ukrainian hryvnia
USD US dollar
VND Vietnamese dong
XAF CFA franc BEAC
ZAR South African rand
ZWD Zimbabwe dollar
Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
RO
Transmittal fee
1
International
1, 2
filing fee
(CHF 1,330)
AG
Information not yet available
AL
ALL
9,000
AMD
32,000
AM
AP
USD
50
(or eq in local currency)
CHF
E-filing reductions according to
Fee per
Schedule of Fees:
sheet
1, 2, 3
5
7
8
over 30
Items 4(a) Item 4(c) Item 4(d)
6
(CHF 15)
(CHF 200) (CHF 300)
and (b)
(CHF 100)
Competent
4
ISA(s)
CA
1,330
15
–
–
–
EP
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP RU
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
AT EP SE
AT
EUR
52
EUR
1,097
12
–
165
247
EP
AU
AUD
200
AUD
1,582
18
–
238
357
AU KR
AZ
AZN
30 9
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
EP RU
BA
BAM
50
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
BE
EUR
120
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
EP RU
16
–
–
–
AT EP US
BG
BGN
80
BGN eq CHF 1,330
BH
BHD
70
USD
BN
BND
BR
BRL
BW
USD
32
USD
BY
BYR eq USD
70
USD
BZ
BZD
300
CA
CAD
CH
1,384
150
BND eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
AT AU EP KR
online: 175
on paper: 235
BRL eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
200
–
AT BR EP SE US
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP
1,384
16
–
–
–
EP RU
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
CA EP
300
CAD
1,544
17
116
232
348
CA
CHF
100
CHF
1,330
15
100
–
–
EP
CL
CLP eq USD 11
130
CLP eq USD11 1,384
CN
CNY
500
CNY eq CHF 1,330
10
eq USD11 16 eq USD11 104
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
208
eq CHF 200
312
CL EP ES KR US
eq CHF 300 CN
[continued on next page]
18
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued]
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
RO
1
Transmittal fee
12
CO
COP
CR
USD
250
USD
CU
CUC
200
CUC
CY
EUR
163
CZ
CZK
DE
DK
DM
865,000
International
1, 2
filing fee
COP eq CHF 1,330
Fee per
E-filing reductions according to
sheet
Schedule of Fees:
1, 2, 3
5
over 30
Items 4(a) Item 4(c)7 Item 4(d)8
6
and (b)
Competent
4
ISA(s)
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
AT, BR, CL, EP, ES,
RU
1,384
16
104
–
–
CL EP ES
1,384
16
104
–
–
AT BR CL EP ES RU
EUR
1,097
12
–
–
–
EP
1,500
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
EUR
90
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP
DKK
1,500
DKK
8,160
90
610
1,230
1,840
EP SE XN
Information not yet available
DO
USD
275
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP ES US
DZ
DZD
None
CHF
1,330
15
100
–
–
AT EP
EA
RUB
1,600
USD
1,384
16
104
208
312
EP RU
EC
USD
–
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
CL EP ES
EE
EUR
115.04
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
13
EG
USD
142
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
EP
EUR
130
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP
ES
EUR
74.99
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP ES
FI
EUR
135
EUR
1,097
12
–
165
247
EP FI SE
FR
EUR
60
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP
GBP
75
GBP
862
10
–
130
194
EP
GB
GD
AT EG EP US
Information not yet available
14
GE
USD
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
GH
GHS 2,500 or 5,000
100
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
AT AU CN EP SE
GR
EUR
115
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
15
AT EP IL RU US
GT
GTQ eq USD
250
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
AT BR EP ES US
HN
USD
200
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP ES
HR
HRK
200
HRK eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
HU
HUF
11,800
HUF
337,500
HUF 3,800
HUF 25,400
–
–
1,330
1,097
1,384
15
12
16
100
82
104
200
165
208
300
247
312
IB
16
CHF
16
or EUR
16
or USD
100
82
104
EP RU
See footnote 17
IDR
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
AU EP JP KR RU
IE
EUR
76
EUR
1,097
12
–
–
–
EP
IL
ILS
554
USD
1,384
16
104
208
312
EP IL US
USD
1,384
16
104
208
312
AT AU CN EP IN SE
US
IRR
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
–
–
167,800
1,900
12,600
25,200
37,800
1,097
12
–
–
–
IR
INR
17,600
(filing by natural person:
3,250; filing by small
entity: 8,800)
13
IDR
eq CHF 300 EP
ID
IN
1,000,000
CHF
or EUR
or USD
eq CHF 200
IRR
–
IS
ISK
15,000
ISK
IT
EUR
30.99
EUR
JP
JPY
10,000 18
KE
USD 250 (or KES equiv)
plus cost of mailing
100
JPY
150,900
(from 1.3.15: 164,300)
104
–
–
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
KGS eq USD
KP
KPW eq CHF
KR
KRW
EP SE XN
EP
EP JP
AT AU CN EP SE
EP RU
EP
KPW eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
CHF
1,330
15
100
–
300
AT CN RU
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP RU
AT AU CN EP SE
AT AU JP
KZ
KZT
LR
USD
45
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
LS
LSL
–
LSL
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
–
–
AT EP
LT
EUR
92
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP RU
13
8,243
34,000
(37,100)
16
Information not yet available
20
–
(–)
1,384
KN
50
11,300
(12,400)
USD
KG
45,000
1,700
(1,900)
EP IN RU
(from 1.3.15 : CN)
19
KR
[continued on next page]
19
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued]
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
RO
1
Transmittal fee
International
1, 2
filing fee
LU
EUR
19
EUR
LV
EUR
68.87
LY
LYD
–
MA
MAD
600
MC
EUR
54
MD
EUR
100
MK
MKD
2,700
None
CHF
55
EUR
6,000
USD
USD
13
MN
MT
EUR
21
22
MW
MWK
MX
USD
MY
MYR 500 (e-filing)
24
550 (paper filing)
323.70
23
24
Fee per
E-filing reductions according to
sheet
Schedule of Fees:
1, 2, 3
5
over 30
Items 4(a) Item 4(c)7 Item 4(d)8
6
and (b)
1,097
12
EUR
1,097
CHF
1,330
CHF
–
–
–
EP
12
82
–
–
EP RU
15
100
–
–
AT EP
1,330
15
–
–
–
AT EP RU SE
EUR
1,097
12
–
–
–
EP
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP RU
MKD eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
EP
1,330
15
100
–
–
EP KR RU
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP
1,384
16
104
–
–
CL EP ES SE US
MYR eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
eq CHF 200
eq CHF 300 AU EP JP KR
NI
USD
200
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
NL
EUR
50
EUR
1,097
12
–
165
247
NO
NOK
NZ
NZD
OA
XAF
800
180
25
13
–
PA
USD
200
PE
PEN
233.35
Competent
4
ISA(s)
EP ES
EP
NOK
8,990
100
–
1,350
2,030
NZD
1,770
20
133
266
399
EP SE XN
AU EP KR US
XAF
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
–
–
AT EP RU SE
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
BR CL EP ES US
PEN eq USD 1,384
eq USD 16
eq USD 104
–
–
AT EP ES KR US
(from 8.1.15: BR and
CL)
PG
PGK
250
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
PH
PHP
3,500
USD
1,384
16
104
208
312
PL
PLN
300
PLN
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
EUR
20.90
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
RSD eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
EP
16
104
–
–
EP RU
PT
QA
eq CHF 300 EP
EP
Information not yet available
RO
RON
RS
RSD
RU
RUB
RW
eq CHF 200
AU
AU EP JP KR US
360
26
7,140
850
USD
1,384
EP RU
Information not yet available
SA
USD
SC
USD
100
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
CA EG EP KR RU
–
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
EP
SDG eq CHF 1,330
EP
13
SD
SDG
50
eq CHF 15
–
–
–
SE
SEK
1,200
SEK
9,970
110
750
1,500
2,250
SG
SGD
150
SGD
1,767
20
133
(from 1.6.14: –)
SI
EUR
SK
EUR
91
27
66
266
399
(266)
(399)
EP SE XN
AT AU EP JP KR
EUR
1,097
12
82
–
–
EP
EUR
1,097
12
82
165
247
EP
SM
EUR
70
EUR
1,097
12
–
–
–
EP
SV
USD
200
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
CL EP ES
SY
USD
–
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
AT EP RU
TH
THB
3,000
THB eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
eq CHF 100
–
–
AU CN EP JP KR US
TJ
TJS
EP RU
TM
USD
TN
13
13
13
13
TND
TR
TT
UA
TTD
–
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
–
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
–
CHF
1,330
15
–
–
–
EP
None
CHF
1,330
15
100
–
–
EP
750
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
AT EP SE US
USD (or
eq UAH or EUR) 1,384
16
104
–
–
UAH or
28
eq EUR or USD 1,300
EP RU
EP RU
[continued on next page]
20
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Table I(a) — Transmittal and international filing fees [continued]
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
1
RO
Transmittal fee
USD
30
small entity :
30
micro entity :
US
29
240
29
120
29
60
USD
13
Fee per
E-filing reductions according to
sheet
Schedule of Fees:
1, 2, 3
5
over 30
Items 4(a) Item 4(c)7 Item 4(d)8
6
and (b)
International
1, 2
filing fee
1,384
Competent
4
ISA(s)
16
104
208
–
AU EP IL KR RU US
UZ
USD
–
USD
1,384
16
104
–
–
EP RU
VN
VND eq USD
150
VND
eq CHF 1,330
eq CHF 15
–
–
–
AT AU EP JP KR RU
SE
ZA
ZAR
500
ZAR
15,580
180
1,170
–
–
AT AU EP US
ZM
USD
50
USD
1,384
16
–
–
–
AT SE
ZW
ZWD
6,000
ZWD eq USD 1,384
eq USD 16
eq USD 104
–
–
AT AU CN EP RU
Table I(b) — Search fees
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
Search fee1
ISA
AT
31
EUR
1,864
CHF
2,260
KRW 2,510,000
SGD
3,000
USD
2,353
ZAR
26,470
AUD
USD
2,200
1,925
CHF
ZAR
1,849
21,660
EUR
1,525
KRW 2,053,000
NZD
2,461
SGD
2,460
Online:
*(from 1.3.15:
On paper:
*(from 1.3.15:
BRL
USD
BRL
USD
1,685
632)
2,525
948)
CHF
667
EUR
550
USD*
694
CHF
1,000
EUR
824
USD*
1,040
CA
CAD
CHF
1,379
EUR
1,137
USD
1,435
CL
USD
2,000
CHF
1,922
EUR
1,585
2
In case of filing by an natural person or a legal entity : USD
33
In case of filing by a university :
USD
400
300
CHF
CHF
AU
BR
32
CN
1,600
384
288
EUR
EUR
317
238
577,000
3,020
ISK
CNY
2,100
CHF
329
EUR
271
USD
342
EGP
4,000
CHF
538
EUR
443
USD
559
EUR
JPY*
USD
1,875
257,900
2,366
CHF
NOK
ZAR
2,274
15,360
26,630
DKK
13,960
NZD
3,026
*(from 1.3.15:
GBP
SEK
JPY
1,474
17,040
278,500)
ES
EUR
1,875
CHF
2,274
USD
2,366
FI
EUR
1,875
CHF
2,274
USD
2,366
IL
ILS*
3,564
*(from 1.3.15:
CHF
ILS
931
3,554
EUR
CHF
768
875
USD
EUR
969
728
USD (amount not yet established))
IN
INR 10,000
CHF
In case of filing by an individual:
157
EUR
INR
129
2,500
USD
CHF
163
39
EUR
32
617
567
577)
EUR*
EUR
509
471
KRW
SGD
685,000
766)
SGD*
820
USD**
642
CHF
405
EUR
334
NZD
539
SGD
540
CHF
1,171
EUR
965
NZD
1,558
SGD
1,560
EUR
EUR
135
115
HUF
HUF
41,400
35,200
USD
USD
170
144)
EUR
EUR
558
477
HUF
HUF
171,700
146,100
USD
USD
704
598)
EG
34
35
EP
35
18
JP
KR
RU
JPY
70,000
*(from 1.3.15:
**(from 1.2.15:
CHF*
CHF
USD
For international applications in Korean:
KRW
450,000
AUD
482
USD
422
For international applications in English:
KRW 1,300,000
AUD
1,393
USD
1,219
For international applications in Russian:
RUB
6,750
CHF
163
(from 1.3.15:
CHF
138
For international applications in English:
RUB
28,000
CHF
677
(from 1.3.15:
CHF
573
HUF
SGD
USD
287,000
41
SE
SEK
USD
17,040
2,366
CHF
2,274
DKK
13,960
EUR
1,875
ISK
287,000
NOK
15,360
US
USD
2,080
30
For small entity :
30
For micro entity :
CHF
USD
USD
1,998
1,040
520
EUR
CHF
CHF
1,648
999
500
NZD
EUR
EUR
2,660
824
412
ZAR
NZD
NZD
23,410
1,330
660
ZAR
ZAR
11,700
5,850
DKK
USD
CHF
2,274
EUR
1,875
ISK
287,000
NOK
15,360
SEK
17,040
XN
13,960
2,366
21
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Table I(c) — Supplementary search fees
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
ISA
AT
Supplementary search handling fee2, 36
Supplementary search fee
– for a search of the Germanlanguage documentation:
– for a search of the European
and North American documentation:
– for a search of the PCT minimum
documentation:
EP
CHF
2,274
2,274
CHF
1,031
CHF
1,443
CHF
2,062
FI
CHF
RU
eq in CHF of RUB
SE
CHF
XN
– for a full search:
– for searches only of documentation in
Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish:
37
11,800
(18,880)
38
2,274
CHF 2,274
CHF
CHF
200
CHF
200
CHF
200
CHF
200
CHF
200
CHF
200
650
Table II — Preliminary examination fees
(amounts on 1 January 2015, unless otherwise indicated)
Preliminary examination fee 39
IPEA
31
AT
AU
32
BR
EUR
1,749
AUD
590
820
BRL
BRL
630
945
Online:
On paper:
Handling fee2, 39 (CHF 200)
40
CA
CAD
CL
USD
1,500
2
in case of filing by a natural person or a legal entity :USD 400
33
USD 300
in case of filing by a university :
CN
34
EG
35
800
EUR
165
AUD
238
BRL eq CHF
200
CAD
232
USD
208
CNY
1,500
CNY eq CHF
200
EGP
3,000
USD
208
EP
EUR
1,930
EUR
165
ES
EUR
589.49
EUR
165
FI
EUR
600
EUR
165
IL
ILS
IN
INR 12,000; in case of filing by an individual: INR 3,000
1,527
(from 1.3.15:
1,523)
JP
JPY
18
26,000
766
208
JPY
22,700
KR
KRW
KRW
222,000
RU
For international applications in Russian: RUB 2,700 4,050
41
42
For international applications in English: RUB 10,500 15,750
USD
208
SE
SEK
SEK
1,500
USD
208
US
XN
450,000
ILS
USD
41
5,000
USD
600
30
For small entity :
30
For micro entity :
DKK
42
43
760
USD
USD
300
150
43
(from 1.3.15:
24,700)
380
43
190
5,000
DKK
1,230
[See over page for footnotes to fee tables]
22
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
Footnotes to fee tables:
1 Payable to the receiving Office in the currency or one of the currencies prescribed by it.
2 This fee is reduced by 90% where the applicant or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant fulfills the criteria indicated on the PCT
website at: http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/fee_reduction.pdf
3 Where the international application contains a sequence listing as a separate part of the description, this should preferably be furnished in
accordance with Annex C, paragraph 40, of the Administrative Instructions under the PCT, that is, in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.25
text format; no additional fees are due for sequence listings filed in this format. Where, however, such sequence listings are filed in the form
of an image file (e.g. PDF), fees are due for each page (see PCT Newsletter No. 06/2009, page 2 at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/newslett/2009/newslett_09.pdf).
4 For the search fee payable to the receiving Office, consult the entry in Table I(b) for the competent International Searching Authority.
5 If the international application is filed on paper together with a copy in electronic form, in character coded format, of the request and the
abstract.
6 If the international application is filed in electronic form, the request not being in character coded format.
7 If the international application is filed in electronic form, the request being in character coded format.
8 If the international application is filed in electronic form, the request, description, claims and abstract being in character coded format.
9 This fee is subject to value added tax (VAT) of 18%.
10 This fee is reduced by 60% where the international application is filed by a natural person, a small or medium-sized enterprise, a
cooperative, an academic institution, a non-profit-making entity or a public institution. For further details, see Official Resolution of the
National Institute of Industrial Property No. 211/09 of 14 May 2009.
11 When calculating the USD equivalent amount in CLP, applicants should use the exchange rate fixed by the Central Bank of Chile on the day
before the date of payment.
12 This fee is reduced by 25% if the applicant is a natural person, a small or medium enterprise, a public or private university recognized by the
National Ministry or a non-profit entity promoting the development of scientific and technological research.
13 The amounts are not yet known or, where known, are subject to periodical revision. The Office or the agent should be consulted for the latest
applicable schedule of fees.
14 This fee is reduced by 70% where the applicant is a natural person.
15 The first amount of the transmittal fee is applicable to individuals or entities employing less than 25 persons. The second amount is
applicable to entities employing 25 persons or more.
16 This fee is not payable in respect of international applications filed by applicants fulfilling the conditions indicated on the PCT website at:
www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/fee_reduction.pdf
17 The competent International Searching Authority(ies) for an international application filed with the International Bureau as receiving Office is
(are) the Authority(ies) which would have been competent if the international application had been filed with the receiving Office of, or acting
for, the Contracting State of which the applicant (or any of the applicants) is a resident or national. See also PCT Applicant’s Guide,
Annex C (IB).
18 This fee is reduced by two thirds where the application is filed in Japanese by an individual, a small or medium-sized enterprise that has
commenced business or been established less than ten years, or a micro enterprise.
For further details, see:
http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki/ryoukin/chusho_keigen.htm
19 The Japan Patent Office is competent only for international applications in Japanese.
20 This fee is subject to value added tax (VAT). Applicants may consult the receiving Office or a registered patent attorney for the latest applicable
VAT rate.
21 This fee is reduced by 50% where the international application is filed by a public university, a small or medium enterprise (in accordance
with the criteria of the charter for small or medium enterprises) or a natural person who is a national of and resides in one of the States
entitled to a reduction under the PCT (for the list of States see www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/fee_reduction.pdf).
22 Plus EUR 1.50 for the preparation of additional copies, for each page and each copy.
23 This fee is subject to a national tax of 16%.
24 Plus MYR 60 for each sheet in excess of 30 for electronic filings, and MYR 70 for each sheet in excess of 30 for paper filings.
25 Plus Goods and Services Tax for New Zealand residents.
26 This fee is reduced by 50% where the applicant is a natural person.
27 This fee is reduced by 50% if the international application is filed in fully-electronic form.
28 This fee is reduced by 95% where all applicants are also inventors and by 90% where all applicants are also non-profitable institutions and/or
organizations. When the fee is payable with relation to an application made by both types of applicant, and all applicants are either also
inventors, or non-profitable institutions and/or organizations, the fee is reduced by 90%.
29 Plus non-electronic filing fee portion for international applications filed other than by the Office electronic filing system of USD 400, or in the
case of filings by small entities or micro entities: USD 200.
30 For further details about entitlement to and establishment of “small entity” status and “micro entity” status, see 37 CFR § 1.27 and 1.29
(pages R-41 and R-47), respectively, at: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/consolidated_rules.pdf
31 The fee is reduced by 75% where the applicant, or if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a natural person and is a national of
and resides in a State for which the Austrian Patent Office is an International Searching Authority (in the case of the search fee)/International
Preliminary Examining Authority (in the case of the preliminary examination fee).
32 This fee is reduced by 60% where the international application is filed by a natural person, a small or medium enterprise or an academic
institution.
33 Applicable where the applicant is (a) a Chilean university, or (b) a foreign university headquartered in any of the States which benefit, in
accordance with the Schedule of Fees under the PCT Regulations, from the 90% reduction of the international filing fee and authenticated by
its legal representative, in a simple declaration signed in the presence of a notary, as constituted as a university in accordance with the law
of that State, provided that, if there are several applicants, each must satisfy the criterion set out in either sub-item (a) or (b)). For details of
applicants entitled to the 90% reduction, see: http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/fee_reduction.pdf
34 The search fee payable to the Office is reduced by 25% where the applicant, or, if there are two or more applicants, each applicant is a
natural person or a legal entity and is a national of and resides in a State which is classified by the World Bank in the group of countries of
“low income”, “lower middle income” or “upper middle income”.
35 The search fee payable to the EPO and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, as well as the preliminary examination fee payable to the
EPO, are reduced by 75% under certain conditions. For further information, see the relevant footnote in the PCT Applicant’s Guide,
Annexes D (EP and ES) and E (EP) at: http://www.wipo.int/pct/guide/en/index.html
36 Payable to the International Bureau in Swiss francs.
37 The amount payable is the equivalent amount in Swiss francs, at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation,
applicable on the date of payment.
38 This fee applies where a declaration referred to in PCT Article 17(2)(a) has been made by the International Searching Authority because of
subject matter referred to in PCT Rule 39.1(iv) (methods of treatment).
39 Payable to the International Preliminary Examining Authority in the currency or one of the currencies prescribed by it.
40 Payable when the international search report was not issued by the Australian Patent Office.
41 Payable when the international search report was established by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) (Russian Federation).
42 In all cases where footnote 41 does not apply.
43 Payable when the international search was not carried out by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (provided that the
USPTO is a competent International Preliminary Examining Authority in the particular case—see PCT Applicant’s Guide, Annex C (US)).
23
PCT NEWSLETTER | January 2015 | No. 01/2015
PCT Contracting States and Two-letter Codes (148 on 1 January 2015)
AE United Arab
Emirates
AG Antigua and Barbuda
AL Albania (EP)
AM Armenia (EA)
AO Angola
AT Austria (EP)
AU Australia
AZ Azerbaijan (EA)
BA Bosnia and
Herzegovina1
BB Barbados
BE Belgium (EP)2
BF Burkina Faso (OA)2
BG Bulgaria (EP)
BH Bahrain
BJ Benin (OA)2
BN Brunei Darussalam
BR Brazil
BW Botswana (AP)
BY Belarus (EA)
BZ Belize
CA Canada
CF Central African
Republic (OA)2
CG Congo (OA)2
CH Switzerland (EP)
CI Côte d’Ivoire (OA)2
CL Chile
CM Cameroon (OA)2
CN China
CO Colombia
1
2
3
CR
CU
CY
CZ
DE
DK
DM
DO
DZ
EC
EE
EG
ES
FI
FR
GA
GB
GD
GE
GH
GM
GN
GQ
GR
GT
GW
HN
HR
HU
ID
IE
IL
Costa Rica
IN
IR
Cuba
2
Cyprus (EP)
Czech Republic (EP) IS
IT
Germany (EP)
JP
Denmark (EP)
KE
Dominica
KG
Dominican Republic KM
Algeria
KN
Ecuador
KP
Estonia (EP)
Egypt
KR
Spain (EP)
KZ
Finland (EP)
LA
France (EP)2
Gabon (OA)2
LC
United Kingdom (EP) LI
Grenada
LK
Georgia
LR
Ghana (AP)
LS
Gambia (AP)
LT
2
LU
Guinea (OA)
Equatorial Guinea (OA)2 LV
LY
Greece (EP)2
MA
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau (OA)2 MC
MD
Honduras
Croatia (EP)
ME
Hungary (EP)
MG
Indonesia
MK
Ireland (EP)2
Israel
India
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
Iceland (EP)
Italy (EP)2
Japan
Kenya (AP)
Kyrgyzstan (EA)
Comoros (OA)2
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Democratic
People’s Republic of
Korea
Republic of Korea
Kazakhstan (EA)
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Saint Lucia
Liechtenstein (EP)
Sri Lanka
Liberia (AP)
Lesotho (AP)
Lithuania (EP)2
Luxembourg (EP)
Latvia (EP)2
Libya
Morocco
Monaco (EP)2
Republic of
Moldova
Montenegro1
Madagascar
The former
Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (EP)
ML Mali (OA)2
MN Mongolia
MR Mauritania (OA)2
MT Malta (EP)2
MW Malawi (AP)
MX Mexico
MY Malaysia
MZ Mozambique (AP)
NA Namibia (AP)
NE Niger (OA)2
NG Nigeria
NI Nicaragua
NL Netherlands (EP)2
NO Norway (EP)
NZ New Zealand
OM Oman
PA Panama
PE Peru
PG Papua New Guinea
PH Philippines
PL Poland (EP)
PT Portugal (EP)
QA Qatar
RO Romania (EP)
RS Serbia (EP)
RU Russian
Federation (EA)
RW Rwanda (AP)
SA Saudi Arabia
SC Seychelles
SD Sudan (AP)
SE Sweden (EP)
SG Singapore
SI
SK
SL
SM
SN
ST
SV
SY
SZ
TD
TG
TH
TJ
TM
TN
TR
TT
TZ
UA
UG
US
UZ
VC
VN
ZA
ZM
ZW
Slovenia (EP)2
Slovakia (EP)
Sierra Leone (AP)
San Marino (EP)
Senegal (OA) 2
Sao Tome and
Principe (AP3)
El Salvador
Syrian Arab Republic
Swaziland (AP)2
Chad (OA)2
Togo (OA)2
Thailand
Tajikistan (EA)
Turkmenistan (EA)
Tunisia
Turkey (EP)
Trinidad and Tobago
United Republic of
Tanzania (AP)
Ukraine
Uganda (AP)
United States of
America
Uzbekistan
Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
Viet Nam
South Africa
Zambia (AP)
Zimbabwe (AP)
Extension of European patent possible.
May only be designated for a regional patent (the “national route” via the PCT has been closed).
Only international applications filed on or after 19 August 2014 will include the designation of Sao Tome and Principe for an
ARIPO patent.
Where a State can be designated for a regional patent, the two-letter code for the regional patent concerned is indicated in parentheses (AP = ARIPO patent, EA = Eurasian patent, EP = European patent, OA = OAPI patent).
Important: This list includes all States that have adhered to the PCT by the date shown in the heading. Any State indicated in bold
italics has adhered to the PCT but will only become bound by the PCT on the date shown in parentheses; it will not be considered to
have been designated in international applications filed before that date.
Note that even though the filing of a request constitutes under PCT Rule 4.9(a) the designation of all Contracting States bound by the
PCT on the international filing date, for the grant of every kind of protection available and, where applicable, for the grant of both
regional and national patents, applicants should always use the latest version of the e-filing software used to generate the request form,
or the latest versions of the request form (PCT/RO/101) and demand form (PCT/IPEA/401) (the latest versions are dated
16 September 2012 and 1 January 2015, respectively). The request and demand forms can be printed from the website, in editable
PDF format, at: http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/forms/, or obtained from receiving Offices or the International Bureau, or, in the case of the
demand form, also from International Preliminary Examining Authorities. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to use ePCT-Filing in
order to benefit from the most up-to-date PCT data.
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